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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Jackson's Estate Reveals ‘Issues' Over One of the Late Pop Star's Ex-Wives in Plea
Michael Jackson's estate revealed it dealt with 'issues' related to one of the late pop star's ex-wives, whose identity was not revealed, as part of a plea for legal fees, Us Weekly can exclusively report. Us obtained court documents filed by John Branca and John McClain, the two men who have been in charge of Michael's estate since his death on June 25, 2009. He was 50. Branca and McClain are requesting the court to sign off on fees to law firms that worked on the estate during the timeframe of July to December 2018. The entertainer's probate case is complex and the fees take years to be approved. In a February 2025 filing, lawyers for Branca and McClain detailed what one of the law firms worked on during the 2018 timeframe. Katherine Jackson Hits Back at Grandson Bigi in Billion Dollar Battle Over Michael Jackson's Estate The lawyers explained that some work was done 'addressing issues relating to Michael Jackson's former spouse.' In addition, the firm handled 'addressing a claim made regarding alleged ownership of rights obtained by a bankruptcy proceeding involving Joseph and Katherine Jackson.' Michael was married to Lisa Marie Presley from 1994 to 1996 and Debbie Rowe, who is the mother to Michael's children, Paris and Prince Jackson, from 1996 to 2000. The motion said one firm worked on 'extraordinary legal services relating to a wide variety of matters, 'including: family allowance, accounting, one of Michael Jackson's accusers, James Safechuck, a demand from a former manager, tax issues, and various other matters. Michael Jackson's 'Leaving Neverland' Accusers Want to Hold His Team Accountable in New Documentary The filing revealed the former manager to be Tohme Tohme, who claimed he was owed over $5 million for services rendered to Michael between 2007 to 2009. The executors disputed the claim. The case was headed to trial in 2018. The parties eventually reached a $3 million settlement. Other work done included defending a lawsuit brought by music producer Quincy Jones. The executors said the fees requested by the law firms relate 'generally to services rendered in connection with various issues regarding [Jones] not dealing with his lawsuit.' The executors said other matters included legal issues related to Michael's former home, Neverland Ranch, and meetings with a potential buyer. The ranch, near Santa Barbara, was originally listed for $100 million in 2015. The estate listed it for $31 million in 2019. It did not sell until 2020 when billionaire Ron Burkle purchased it. As Us first reported, Michael's daughter, Paris, who is a beneficiary of the estate along with her two brothers, Prince and Bigi Jackson, recently objected to a portion of the requested fees. She claimed to have 'serious' questions about the amounts requested. In her motion, Paris' lawyer argued, 'During this [six-month period] alone in 2018, Executors request that the Court approve $625,000 in payments to three law firms for what they say is uncaptured time, without explanation as to why counsel was incapable of recording unbilled time, or why such a failure should not preclude payment.' Michael Jackson's Kids and Mom Barred from Trust Fund Payments Until Estate and IRS Settle Dispute Her attorney added, 'Even worse, these payments appear, at least in part, to consist of lavish gratuities bestowed upon already well-compensated counsel.' Paris also claimed it appeared payments to law firms were made in 'full,' which she said violated the court's order allowing only 'partial payments of attorney fees until court approval is obtained.' The estate has yet to respond to the claims. A hearing has been set for later this month. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Michael Jackson's Estate Fires Back at His Daughter Paris After She Objects to Payments
The executors of Michael Jackson's estate fired back at the late pop star's daughter, Paris Jackson, after she claimed to have 'serious' questions about payments, Us Weekly can report. On June 15, lawyers for John Branca and John McClain, who have run the estate since Michael died in 2009, filed documents in response to Paris' opposition to certain legal fees they asked to be paid to various firms. As Us first reported, the fees requested are for work done between July 2018 and December 2018. Paris, 27, said she was 'concerned' about the executors granting 'premium payments' for 'unrecorded attorney time.' Lawyers for the executors argued, 'The untimely nature of the objections should lead the court to summarily overrule them.' The executors' lawyers said Paris was wrong when she claimed they were only allowed to make partial payments to law firms. They said they were trusted to make decisions because they turned Michael's estate profitable. The executors claim the estate was 'saddled with more than $500 million of debt' when Michael died. They say their work turned the estate around, which is now worth several billion dollars. The executors said the fees requested were 'well deserved and reasonable given the nature and difficulty of the tasks performed.' The executors point out the 'additional compensation' that the estate's law firms during the time period following the sale of the estate's minority interest in EMI Publishing for $287 million, 'an interest the executors had acquired for the estate in 2012 for a mere $47,500 — a return on the investment of over 6,000 times in a six year period. Michael Jackson Was More Than $500 Million in Debt When He Died, New Court Documents Reveal The court has yet to rule on the matter. As Us previously reported, in her motion, Paris' lawyer said that during this one period 'in 2018, Executors request that the Court approve $625,000 in payments to three law firms for what they say is uncaptured time, without explanation as to why counsel was incapable of recording unbilled time, or why such a failure should not preclude payment.' Paris' opposition argued, 'Even worse, these payments appear, at least in part, to consist of lavish gratuities bestowed upon already well-compensated counsel.' In addition, Michael's daughter said she believed the executors had made payments to law firms in full, which she claimed violated the court's order allowing for only partial payments until the court signed off on fees. Michael Jackson's Kids, Paris, Prince and Blanket: Where Are They Now? 'These irregular payments raise serious and substantial questions about the Executors' ability to effectively supervise counsel by, at minimum … and refraining from wasteful, six-figure gift-giving to themselves and their colleagues,' Paris' attorney said. Paris said she found 'several inconsistencies' that called for 'close scrutiny of all fees and costs sought in the petition.' Paris asked that the entire $625k in premium payments be denied and the rest of the fees be looked at closely before being approved. Lisa Marie Presley's Estate Sued for $3.8 Million Over Unpaid 2018 Loan Paris, along with her brothers and Bigi, are the only beneficiaries of Michael's estate. Last year, Katherine and the executors fought for months over the sale of a portion of Michael's music rights to Sony for an estimated $600 million. The executors demanded the deal they hashed out be approved despite Katherine's objections. In the end, the court sided with the executors. Paris has yet to speak out publicly about her objections.
